2009-09-23
For the dozens of demonstrators outside the Algonquin Theatre on Monday afternoon, one thing was abundantly clear: no one knew who had arranged for them to gather there.
“S.K., S.K., who is S.K.?” one woman cried, of the initials the host of the event had used to inform demonstrators about the local version of the worldwide rallies against climate change, 189 in Canada alone.
Another cajoled a friend to tell him if he had set it up.
“It must be someone here,” said demonstrator Jody White, looking around the rain-splattered crowd. “I guess they just want to remain anonymous.”
Around 40 people of all ages gathered for the flash mob demonstration against climate change outside the theatre on Monday while their counterparts around the world did the same. A flash mob demonstration is when a group of demonstrators gather to make their point to passers-by and disperse quickly.
The five-minute event was part of the Global Climate Wake-up Call, which was run on Sept. 21 by a coalition of environment and anti-poverty groups and accessible on the Internet via the online community avaaz.org, a global advocacy group.
According to worldwide organizers, this demonstration was to stimulate stalled United Nations climate talks with the hopes for a global treaty to address climate change. The peaceful demonstrations were held at various times around the world.
Here in Huntsville, at 4 p.m. demonstrators flicked open their cell phones when their alarms went off to simultaneously call Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office. Only one woman got through before excitedly passing off her phone to Jody White to leave a message for Harper.
Demonstrators cheered.
Some said they expected to see more of the same sort of gatherings with the G8 Summit happening in town in June 2010.
“(The issues of climate change) are more prominent in the press and the media and people are becoming aware,” said Rick Riley, who came to the demonstration with his wife Kim and dogs Buddy and Cassie. This was their first demonstration. “You can’t get away with (being complacent).”
His wife Kim agreed, but suggested there’s not too much for people to worry about. “People that are involved in saving the world are peaceful,” said Kim Riley. “We know that going about it the wrong way detracts from the whole message.”